Over 1000 real estate ads in state found misleading

Maharashtra: Over 1000 real estate ads in the state have been flagged as misleading. The Forum for People’s Collective Efforts (FPCE) is sounding the alarm about this issue. They’ve written to the Secretary of Consumer Affairs, pointing fingers at MahaRERA for not taking action against developers who mislead buyers.

According to a report from the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), out of 2115 ads reviewed, 1027 were found to violate the RERA Act. Even though MahaRERA teamed up with ASCI to tackle misleading ads, the lack of serious penalties is a big concern. The report showed that while many advertisers complied by changing or pulling their ads, a significant number still faced minimal fines.

Advocate Anil Dsouza from the MahaRERA Bar Association emphasized that stricter penalties are necessary. He mentioned that misleading ads create confusion and misrepresentation, which can lead to legal issues. He also pointed out that the first case of its kind involved an unregistered agent in Chembur promoting unregistered projects.

Abhay Upadhyay, president of FPCE, criticized the current system, saying that the fines are too low to deter bad behavior. He noted that many ads don’t accurately represent the projects, and builders often take advantage of this loophole. He expressed frustration over the lack of response to his concerns about misleading advertising practices.

Ramesh Prabhu, founder of MahaSEWA, added that MahaRERA should take stronger action against promoters who engage in unfair practices. He suggested that they should publish details of misleading ads to help buyers make informed choices. Overall, there’s a clear call for more accountability in the real estate advertising space to protect consumers better.